Insider's Guide to Japan

  Beyond "Good Job" — Understanding the Power of Negirai Imagine a common cross-cultural scenario: a Western manager, intending to praise a Japanese team member after a grueling project, says, "Fantastic result! You really delivered." The team member's response is polite but subdued, leaving the manager confused. Why didn't that praise land as expected? The answer lies in a profound cultural difference in how effort and achievement are perceived and acknowledged. In the Japanese workplace, the most meaningful recognition often focuses not just on the destination, but on the arduous journey taken to get there. This guide delves into the Japanese concepts of negirai (労い, ねぎらい, negirai) and irō (慰労, いろう, irō), which represent the art of appreciating the toil and trouble someone has endured. The term irō is defined as the act of showing appreciation for hardship and effort through words or actions. It is a combination of comforting someone and appreciating th...